WASHINGTON, D.C. – In the midst of growing bipartisan recognition that America must confront our overcriminalization problem, a group of Democratic and Republican members of Congress have launched an effort to comprehensively address public safety and our broken criminal justice system.

Brooklyn Congressman Hakeem Jeffries announced today that he and three peers—two Republicans and one fellow Democrat—will co-chair a new Criminal Justice and Public Safety Caucus, aimed at altering the prison system in the United States.

Washington, DC – Today U.S. Representative Hakeem Jeffries (NY-08), a member of the House Judiciary Committee and Whip of the Congressional Black Caucus, released the following statement on the House Republican disgraceful embrace of the confederate battle flag:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Last night, the House of Representatives unanimously passed on a voice vote an amendment sponsored by U.S. Representative Hakeem Jeffries (NY-08) that will prohibit the allocation of federal funds in connection with the purchase or display of a confederate flag on a public building or facility under the authority of the National Park Service.

Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Representative Hakeem Jeffries (NY-08), a member of the House Judiciary Committee, released the following statement on today’s Supreme Court’s decision to allow nationwide health care subsidies:

Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Representative Hakeem Jeffries (NY-08), a member of the House Judiciary Committee and Whip of the Congressional Black Caucus, released the following statement on the tragic shooting at South Carolina’s Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church:

Washington, DC – Today U.S. Representative Hakeem Jeffries (NY-08), a member of the House Judiciary Committee and Whip of the Congressional Black Caucus, released the following statement on the FBI warrantless aerial surveillance program:

Brooklyn Congressman Hakeem Jeffries announced today that he and three peers—two Republicans and one fellow Democrat—will co-chair a new Criminal Justice and Public Safety Caucus, aimed at altering the prison system in the United States.

(CNN) As Baltimore reels from protests over the death of a black man at the hands of white police officers, a New York congressman is calling for a national ban on chokeholds, the restraining move that led to the death of Eric Garner over the summer.

As a direct response to the death of Eric Garner, an unarmed father of six, Rep. Jeffries introduced the Excessive Use of Force Prevention Act of 2015, which would make the use of police chokeholds illegal under federal law.

Top US lawmakers are to discuss ways of tackling the killing of black suspects by police amid signs that the hitherto muted political response to a spate of recent controversies is giving way to more concerted attempts at reform.

With the dust from the corporate Mardi Gras settling on the streets of Austin, it’s time for some sober self-assessment. After all, South By Southwest is supposed to be a party with a purpose. And this year there were promising signs from the must unlikely suspects: politicians.